Variable hook-off device



July 12, 1938. o. c. STAPLES VARIABLE HOOK-OFF msvrcn Filed March 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l I I I l I l I l l I ll I l I I I I I l I I.

INVENT R ATTORNEY July 12, 1938. o. c. sTAPLE VARIABLE HOOK-OFF DEVICE Filed March 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 030651 any/ 1295 IN VENT OR Patented July 12, 1938 STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to well pumping apparatus and it has particular reference to surface equipment adapted to effect the hooking oil" of the well from the power unit which operates the pump jack through the rod line.

The principal object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity for a rod line hold-up or holddown at the power source and particularly, the invention aims to provide a medium which may be used on irregular terrain, over which it may be necessary to extend a rod line in order that the rod may be held up or down as well as enabling the well to be hooked off from the power. Moreover, the invention eliminates hazard inasmuch as the operator is not liable to injury while hooking on or oil of a well.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate as much as possible, friction at the hook-01f by providing a roller engagement and rub-guide block, neither of which interfere with proper reciprocation or alignment of the rod line, regardless of the plane on which the line is constrained to operate, with respect to the well and power.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the

" invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section showing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the disconnecting loop and handle with the bearing plates fragmentarily shown.

Figure 4 is a modified form of the invention inasmuch as it shows the hold-up and hold-down without the hook-off.

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section on lines 5-5 on Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a plan view.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, reference is primarily made to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive in which i designates a con crete base on which is superimposed a pair of channel irons 2, serving as guides or rails for the wheels 3. The wheels 3 are mounted on a stub axle 3 and are so constructed as to be grease packed, the grease being introduced through suitable cups or valved orifices 5. It will be noted that.

the treads of the wheels are shaped to correspond with the slant of the flanges of the channels in order that side draft will be reduced to the minimum.

The rails or channels 2 are firmly anchored to the base I by long bolts 6 which are aflixed in the concrete of the base before it becomes set. At one end however, the bolts 6 serve the dual purpose of securing the rails as well as the guide block extension angle 1, to which latter element reference will be later made.

The rod 8 is a section of the rod line assembly and extends to the well pump jack and is connected to the joint 9 by means of a bolt H). The joint 9 is, in turn connected to the axle 4 of the carriage.

A special webbed casting H impinges the axle 4 and extends in an opposite direction to the joint 9 and has a loop l2 adapted to receive one hook of the C-link E3, the opposite end of this link being received by the loop M of the casting [5 which latter serves likewise as a connection to a continuation of the rod line 8 to the power (not shown) through the medium of the clamps or connection Hi. This connection embraces a flat bar I! which is joined to the casting l5 by means of the combination clamp l8. This clamp I8 has a handle l9 thereon as an aid in manipulating the rod line preparatory to effecting connection between the two casting loops I2 and M by means of the C-link l3. It will be seen from the foregoing that complete connection between the well and the power is made. Adjustment in the length of the stroke can be made between the clamp 18 and clamp l6.

Situated within a recess 20 in the base I is a bushing 2| having an integral disconnecting loop 22, the idle position being as shown in Figure l. The bushing 2! is affixed to a shaft 23 which is journaled in side bearing plates 24. One end of the shaft 23 extends through one of the channels 2 and is shaped into a handle or crank 25. By moving this handle up and down the loop is analogously moved.

Accordingly, when the handle 25 is pressed down, in the operation of disconnecting the well from the power, the loop 22 is elevated into the path of the hook 26, integral with the casting l I. As the rod line 8 to the well recedes, the hook 26 engages the loop 22 and a slight further movement of the rod line to the power will bring about a slackening of the elements opposing the C-link I3 and the latter may be readily removed. Thus, the well is released from the power and the rod line continues to reciprocate.

As a means to prevent frictional wear on any metallic part of the assembly, a rub-block 21 is disposed transversely across the extension angles 1 and is slotted at 28 (see Figure 2) to receive the bar l1.

When the rod line 8 to the well is assembled and if, for any reason it should break or become disconnected accidentally, an anchor rod 29, embedded in the base I, is provided and to which may be connected One end of a take-up chain or line which is hitched to the free end of the rod line to bring the same to a position to effect its connection to the joint 9, as at In in Figure 1.

The structure just described is advantageous not only in eliminating much friction, constraining the rod line against other than reciprocating movement, and in providing as it does, a ready and thoroughly safe method for hooking off and on the well, but it likewise eliminates the necessity of providing a rod hold-up and hold-down at the power.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 4, and 6. This form does not include the hook-off assembly described in the foregoing but does show substantially the same roller type hold-up and hold-down as in the preferred embodiment, that is to say the means for constraining the rod line against other than reciprocating movement.

In Figure 4 is shown a concrete base 30, superimposed upon which are channel iron rails or tracks 3|, anchored to the base 30 by means of bolts 32, embedded in the concrete of the base. These rails are confronting and conformabls receive the grease packed wheels 33, the latter being mounted on an axle 34.

The rod line 35 is connected to the axle 34 through the link 36 and a bifurcated link 3'! serves to similarly connect the continuation of the rod line 35 to the axle 34. Thus, a fulcrum is provided by the axle 34 which allows for variation in the angular relationship of the rods 35 opposing the carriage.

It frequently happens that a rod line must be assembled over a hill or an elevation between the well and the power, or across a ravine. In the former instance, the rods 35 will assume the relative angles shown in partly solid lines in Figures 4 and 5. Accordingly, a channel or groove 38 is made longitudinally in the top of the base 30, between the rails 3! in which the rods 35 move, in order that they will not drag on the base when conditions require a downward slant on either side of the hold-up and hold-down unit.

When the unit is to be disposed in a ravine or valley, the rods 35 will assume the relative angles shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 and in which case, the unit serves in the capacity of a holddown and allows free longitudinal travel of the rods but reduces friction to the minimum.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hook-ofi device for wells including a base, parallel channel members mounted on said base,

a pair of wheels and an axle therefor confined between said channel members and carrying a joint member engageable with a section of a well pump rod line, and with said axle, a hook member also carried by said axle and capable of releasable connection with a continuation of said rod line, a stub shaft extendingthrough said base below and at right angles to said channel members, a looped member mounted on said shaft for movement into the reciprocating path of said hook member to engage said hook and efiect release of said first named rod line from said continuation thereof, a crank for operating said looped member, and non-metallic means adjacent to said channel members and against which the continuation of said rod line rubs to protect the same against undue frictional wear.

2. A hook-01f device for pumping wells including a longitudinally channeled base, rails superimposed on said base on. either side of the channel thereof, a pair of wheels mounted on a shaft and movable between said rails, a joint member rotatably engaging said axle and having connection with a rod line extending to a well, a looped member also rotatably connected to said axle and carrying a hook, means to effect engagement of said looped member to a power line, a stub shaft extending through said base below and at right angles to said rails, a pivoted member mounted on said shaft movable into the reciprocating path of said looped member for engaging said hook to release and hold said rod line, a crank operatively connected to said stub shaft and disposed outside of said rails for actuating said pivoted member, and non-metallic means adjacent to said channeled base and embracing said power line to reduce the frictional wear thereon.

3. A hook-off for wells comprising in combination with the well pump rod line and power line, a base, a pair of channel members mounted on said base providing rails, a member constrained against other than horizontal reciprocation operating on said rails and having fixed relationship with the terminal of said rod line, a looped member rotatably connected to said member, and a hook integrally joined to said looped member, a second looped member connected to the terminal of said power line, a G-link engaging the loops of each of said members to connect said rod line to said power line, a stub shaft extending through said base below and at right angles to said rails, a pivoted member connected to said shaft, an operating crank disposed exteriorly of said rails for operating said pivoted member, and means engageable with said first looped member to release and hold said rod line stationary with respect to said power line and means adjacent to said channel members and with which said power line is arranged to frictionally engage for reducing frictional wear on said power line.

OSCAR C. STAPLES. 

